No helmet, no petrol in Raipur

In a move to strictly implement helmets for two-wheeler riders and prevent road accidents, six district collectors have issued a notice to petrol pump owners to impose 'no helmet, no petrol' rule in Raipur range.TNN | March 29, 2016, 08:44 IST

RAIPUR: In a move to strictly implement helmets for two-wheeler riders and prevent road accidents, six district collectors have issued a notice to petrol pump owners to impose 'no helmet, no petrol' rule in Raipur range. With recent incidents of police atrocities on people not wearing helmets, Raipur range IG GP Singh has ordered a probe in cases and has instructed to punish those found guilty within two days.

Though he asked officials to continue with the drive under supervision of senior cops, GP Singh asked them to extend campaign to shopping malls, bus stands and other public places and not limit it to main squares.

"Misbehaviour or any sort of nuisance with commuters won't be tolerated, which in the past happened due to lack of supervision.Now, it's high time for people to understand that wearing helmet was mandatory and most needed. Deaths in road accidents in state are about five times higher than murder instances and nearly 70% of which is due to head injuries of two-wheelers," Singh told TOI.

Promoting zero tolerance over the issue, he said, "On cue from Indore where collector had issued similar order to tighten noose over traffic violation and bringing down accidental deaths, I sent a proposal to administration."

All four districts under Raipur range, Bilaspur and Surguja have been ordered by respective collectors to not give fuel to those not wearing helmets on two-wheeler. These districts include Raipur, Dhamtari, Baloda Bazaar, Mahasamund.

On Monday, a meeting with petrol pump owners and police was held to ensure implementation of the rule.

IG said that Telibandha and SRP chowk have been kept aloof of helmet drive as they are heavy traffic zones and the checking at these spots lead to unnecessary traffic jam and disruption. Making it a political issue, main opposition Congress staged protest and took out a rally on bikes without wearing helmets demonstrating against police atrocities, demanding not to enforce the rule within city limits. District Congress president Vikas Upadhyay alleged that it was another step for state government to extort money from people.

Congressmen in large number flocked Jaistambh Chowk and raised slogans, disrupted traffic following which many of them were cane charged and arrested.